Sometime in the afternoon of July 2, Jana Mackey ceased being an advocate for women. Instead, she became another statistic in a cause she spent years fighting. Mackey, 25, a University of Kansas law student, had lobbied state legislators for gay and lesbian, and women’s groups. She assisted victims of rape and domestic violence.

It’s been a hard, painful journey for Christie and Curt Brungardt. When their daughter, Kansas University law student Jana Mackey, was killed by her former boyfriend in July, they were victims. After the initial shock of Jana’s death, they became survivors. And Friday night, during the Take Back the Night event in South Park, they became advocates...read more